Microsoft Acknowledges Open Source As a Bigger Threat Than Google

ruphus13 takes us to ZDNet for an analysis of comments by Microsoft's Chief Software Architect, Ray Ozzie, about how open source is "much more potentially disruptive" to Microsoft's business strategy than Google. Ozzie also spoke about the future of Microsoft's search technology, which will develop with or without Yahoo. There is a related interview at OStatic with several Microsoft employees about how they view and interact with the open source community. The head of Microsoft's global open source and Linux team is quoted saying: "The other thing I think is missing is implementation of a basic principle of economic fairness. Thousands of developers have put very hard work into building software used by millions of people and companies, yet only a fraction of these developers are rewarded financially. Currently there are perfectly good projects that have been abandoned by their developers despite being used by large corporations. Subsequently the projects fall out of use. This is unnecessary waste that would often be prevented by making it easy for companies to pay the developers directly. I think it's important to solve this so that the sustainability of open source projects is improved."

Comments

OK Microsoft

[harry666t]

"""This is unnecessary waste that would often be prevented by making it easy for companies to pay the developers directly. I think it's important to solve this so that the sustainability of open source projects is improved."""

I want your money.

Pay me.

Re:Big Suprise

[Anonymous Coward]

Surprise has two Rs in it. Did you know that before?

Re:FUD FUD FUD FUD. FUDDITY FUD. FUDDITY FUD.

[digitig]

We're not all smelly hippies who hate money and wear hand knitted nettle underpants. That's true. Some of us are smelly hippies who hate money and don't wear underpants at all.

METH

[bledri]

Thousands of developers have put very hard work into building software used by millions of people and companies, yet only a fraction of these developers are rewarded financially.

Perhaps Ray Ozzie is going to start a new organization to protect developers of free software from themselves.

METH - Microsoft for the Ethical Treatment of Hobbyists!